Bumper assembly for boats



J. S. ERKERT l BUMPER ASSEMBLY FOR BOATS Filed Dec. 5, 1958 Nov. 8, 196

BUMPER ASSEMBLY FOR BOATS .lames S. Erkert, Sheboygan, Wis., assignor to National Lock Co., Rockford, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 3, 1958, Ser. No. 778,026

1 Claim. (Cl. 114-219) The present invention relates to a bumper construction and more particularly to a novel bumper assembly having a rigid part providing a support adapted to be anchored to the gunnel or side of a boat and a ilexible part projecting from the support providing a bumper.

Among the objects of the present invention is the provision of a novel bumper assembly composed of a rigid channel member securely anchored to the gunnel of a boat and a relatively soft insert or bumper anchored in a novel manner to the channel member.

The present invention further comprehends a novel two-piece bumper assembly formed of a plastic composition, one part of which comprises an inner member providing a channelled base formed of a rigid plastic composition and the other an insert of relatively soft plastic composition anchored in the ehannelled base, the latter being securely aixed and retained on the gunnel by rigid anchoring means, such as screws.

The novel base and the insert or bumper are each formed of plastic composition with the composition of the base providing a rigid support, and the projecting bumper insert formed of a relatively soft and flexible member of concavo-convex shape anchored and retained upon the base in a novel manner to provide an effective bumper for the boat.

Further objects are to provide a construction of maximum simplicity, eiiciency, economy and ease of assembly and operation, and such further objects, advantages and capabilities las will later more fully appear and are inherently possessed thereby.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a portion of a boat to which the novel bumper assembly is applied.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view in vertical cross section through a side of a berglass boat to which the novel bumper assembly has been affixed, the view being taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig, 2, but with the novel bumper assembly shown ailixed to a boat of wood construction.

Fig. 4 is 1a fragmentary view in perspective of the channel support.

Referring more particularly to the disclosure in the drawing and to the novel illustrative embodiment therein shown, Fig. 2 shows the novel bumper assembly 10 aixed to an upper edge or gunnel 11 of a fiberglass boat 12, while Fig. 3 shows the novel bumper assembly 10 affixed to the gunnel or upper edge 13 of a wood constructed boat 14.

The novel bumper assembly comprises a two-piece unit including a channelled support or anchoring member 15 having its base 16 rigidly secured and anchored to the gunnel by suitably spaced screws or anchoring means 17, and a flexible or resilient insert 18 affixed to the base in the novel manner shown. Each of the component parts 15 and 18 of the bumper assembly is formed of a plastic composition, preferably of a vinyl resin, with the composition of the support being of approximately 100 plus atent i durometer on the A scale and the insert 18 of approximately 50 to 80 durometer, and thus capable of being llexed for assembly and to provide a soft, flexible bumper upon impact.

To assemble the insert 13 on the channelled support 15, the latter is provided with forwardly and inwardly inclined sides 19 and 19a projecting from the base 16 and each having an inturned flange 21 adapted to be conformably received in a longitudinally extending and outwardly opening slot 22 in the opposite sides of the concavo-convex insert 18. The outer or convex surface of the insert is also longitudinally recessed or grooved at its opposite ends or edges 23 to conformably receive the sides 19 and 19a as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, with each ange 21 conformably received within a slot 22 in the opposite ends or edges of the insert 18. To accurately locate and align the bumper support 15 and position its upper end on the gunnel or upper edge of the boat, the support 15 is provided with a longitudinally extending and rearwardly projecting lip 24 adapted to seat on the upper edge.

In the embodiment of Fig. 2, the longitudinally spaced anchoring screws 17 have their threaded shank shown as extending through the gunnel 11 and anchored in a wood insert or block 25 mounted within the space provided between the gunnel and the adjoining portion of the boat 12. In this form the bumper support 15 is shown mounted in a substantially vertical plane.

Fig. 3 shows the same btunper assembly 10 mounted in an inclined plane on the upper edge or gunnel 13 of a wooden boat 14 with the threaded shank of the attaching screws 17 anchored in the gunnel 13 and adjoining side of the boat 14.

In the assembly of the bumper assembly 10 to either form of boat shown or to other boats to which it may be applied, the channelled support 15 is easily and quickly located by the lip 24 and anchored in operative position by attaching screws 17 in the manner shown. When the base 16 is so anchored, the relatively soft insert 18 is then applied to the support by compressing or flexing its opposite sides suciently to permit its compressed ends 23 to be inserted into the channel between the extended ends of th-e inturned flanges 21. With the ends 23 inserted until they abut the base 16, upon releasing pressure applied to the opposite sides of the insert permits the anges 21 to enter the aligned slots 22 and the sides 19 and 19a to locate in the aligned grooves on the exterior of the edges 23.

With the insert or bumper 18 -assembled in the manner shown in Figs. 2 and 3, it is securely retained by the inturned anchoring flanges or projections 21 and by the resiliency and llexibility of the plastic composition of which it is formed. The outer or convex surface o-f the flexible or yieldable insert 18 projecting a substantial distance beyond the gunnel or upper edge of th-e boat, provides optimum protection for the boat and any contacted object.

While excellent results have been obtained by forming the component parts of the bumper assembly 10 of a plastic composition, such as vinyl resin, other plastic compositions or combinations thereof, including polyethylene, natural or compounded synthetic rubber or similar plastic materials, may be employed.

Having thus disclosed the invention, I claim:

A bumper assembly for the gunnel of a boat consisting of a support of rigid plastic composition having a flat base, openings in said base to accommodate fastener means for attachment of the support to the gunnel of the boat, outwardly extending and converging flat sides of the support terminating in inturned straight flanges, said flanges being disposed substantially parallel to the flat base, one of said sides extending beyond the base to form an;a1igned lip to locate the upper edge of the support the base so that the outer ysurface of said'bumper Vand along the upper edge of the gunnel, and an insert also the outer surfaces of the sides and lip of the support of a plastic composition but providing a relatively soft, form a substantially continuous convex curved surface. exible bumper of concave-convex shape with VerticaLly i spaced edges, each having a slot spaced. from but ad- 5 References Cited 111 the fue 0f thls Patet jacent its opposite end witheach slot receiving `one of said UNITED STATES PATENTS @rimmed anges wh. Seid.A a'nges ,reta1{1ng,sa1dinsert 1 930,189 Barbara Oct. 10, 1933 1n anchored operative posltlon, said flexible bumper being recessed between each slot and itsadjacent end at 2089500 Ochadloskl Aug' 10 1937 

